Indoctrinate Quotes (2 quotes)
I know that the majority of those who are not only considered intellectual people, but actually are very intellectual, able to understand the most difficult scientic, mathematical, and philosophical discussions, are very rarely able to understand even the simplest and most obvious truth, if it involves a consequent admission that a judgment concerning some subject, which they have reached often with great effort, a judgment of which they are proud, with which they have indoctrinated others, and on the foundation of which they have built their whole lives-that this judgment may possibly be false.
First sentence of Chap. 14, 'The Sense of Art is Atrophied', What is Art? (1898), 207, as translated by Charles Johnston. [Note: scientic (sic) is as printed.]
It is one of the little ironies of our times that while the layman was being indoctrinated with the stereotype image of black holes as the ultimate cookie monsters, the professionals have been swinging round to the almost directly opposing view that black holes, like growing old, are really not so bad when you consider the alternative.
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In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
(1987) -- 
